Bipolar Disorder: A Hidden Crisis In Schools

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Bipolar Disorder: A Hidden Crisis in the Schools

There is often a prevailing myth that society has stigmatized someone who has a mental illness. This myth is usually a form of stereotyping a person portrayed by a crazy, out of control and one who is dangerous. This characterization is not only false, but it is insulting to the millions of people who suffer from Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder, as other mental illnesses come in many sizes, shapes, and colors, and there is not a one size fits all method of addressing them. There is a large number of children who has never been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Yet, teachers are sometimes the first to notice

Some of these students may experience behavior such as difficulty concentrating, understanding his or her assignments and may even become defiant when his is confronted with their classwork. Given that educators are often in the front line of the students’ lives and very strongly influences how a student perceives their illness, this problem need to be addressed. There are plenty school age children that face many different mental illnesses, including Bipolar Disorder that has been hidden for a long time. Schools are responsible for educating all children, no matter the mental illnesses and teachers must learn how to access all students’ needs: mentally, socially, and academically in order to help them reach their maximum potential.

Being a Behavioral Interventionist in the school system, I have dealt with students with multiple illnesses, Bipolar Disorder, being one of them. Bipolar Disorder is known as a manic depressive illness with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. Some of the common methods of treating bipolar disorder is with use of medication and some psychological therapy session. Bipolar disorder usually manifest during a person teen years and as a young adult.

There are things parents traditionally do when they are preparing for their children to start school of which immunization is on them. Children with early-onset Bipolar Disorder may present with a wide variety of symptoms that range from mild to extreme and that may begin as early as infancy. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five children meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis during their lifetime (Should Schools Screen Kids for Mental Health Problems). If one can view schools as a primary platform for children to live and learn; consequently, this can be a good setting for children to be screen for mental health. There are many barriers that can be reduced through mental health screening; whereas positive behavior outcomes can be the resulted from mental health screening. Many researchers and clinicians can receive positive information through conducting mental health screenings in the school system. These screening can greatly impact and improve clinical practices, research, and policy. Mental health screening in the schools can prove to be a valuable stepping stone to improve disparity of this illness in children and their families. The student that I spoke about earlier was screened at school by the Clinical Psychologist because of her loud outbursts and disruptive behavior. The Psychologists findings were relayed to her mother, which in